Would you believe that in the Bee's 89 years, this is the first time there has ever been an opening ceremony?
Chances are, it won't be the last.
Alyssa Mangio, speller 141, said she really enjoyed the ceremony.
"It made me feel more welcome, more confident," said the Las Vegas seventh grader who is competing here for the first time.
Her favorite part, she said, was the tips offered by former spellers Benjamin Kulas and Dev Jaiswal. The pair told spellers to make sure they looked at the judges as they spelled, to say their word before and after they spell it and to think before they spell. They also warned spellers that they would, at some point, get a word they didn't know.
"Take a deep breath and firmly dig your heels into the stage because you don't want to leave," Dev said.
He said spellers that work hard and ask the right questions can surprise themselves when they spell those unknown words correctly.
Others reminded the spellers that the judges were there to help them, sang happy birthday to five spellers who are celebrating this week and told the attendees about another new addition to the Bee, the Spellebrity video contest.
"This is a special night," Bee Director Paige Kimble told the crowd.
She told spellers that at the end of the competition, there would be one word they would never forget.
But that word isn't the most important thing, she said.
"Reflect on the moment," she said. "You're touching the hearts of kids who want to be just like you."
Others reminded the spellers that the judges were there to help them, sang happy birthday to five spellers who are celebrating this week and told the attendees about another new addition to the Bee, the Spellebrity video contest.
"This is a special night," Bee Director Paige Kimble told the crowd.
She told spellers that at the end of the competition, there would be one word they would never forget.
But that word isn't the most important thing, she said.
"Reflect on the moment," she said. "You're touching the hearts of kids who want to be just like you."